Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2015 - WL 305W D100

Sages and Poets (4)

Class Number: 7159

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 8 – Dec 7, 2015: Thu, 1:30–5:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Dec 14, 2015
    Mon, 8:30–11:30 a.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    45 units.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Explores wisdom literature, poetry, or the resonance of faith in secular world literatures. May focus on cross-cultural mystical quests, secular re-castings of narratives of faith and conversion, or the interplay of the religious and the secular in comparative supernatural literatures. Writing/Breadth-Humanities.

COURSE DETAILS:

While we, as students of literature, tend to focus on how language acts as an art-form, in this course we will take a slightly different approach by looking at the ways in which authors struggle with what they deem as the limits of their language. We will explore what exactly constitutes the unsayable for poets and philosophers, while looking at the ways in which critical silences are constituted in texts to stand for the ineffable.  

Readings will include Nietzsche’s “On Truth and Lying in an Extra-Moral Sense,” Benjamin’s “The Task of the Translator,” Kierkergaard’s Fear and Trembling, a series of short stories by Borges, along with poems by Hoelderlin, Celan, Rilke, and Khayyam.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

  • Reading comprehension, retention, and discussion of difficult philosophical and poetic works 
  • Review of critical thinking and analytical writing skills 
  • How to write an effective thesis paper 
  • How to write a cogently argued research paper 
  • How to engage with secondary sources 
  • Doing research and sharing it with your peers

Grading

  • Midterm Paper 25%
  • Final Paper 40%
  • Research Portfolio 10%
  • Presentation 5%
  • Art Project 5%
  • Participation 10%

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

THE REQUIRED TEXTS WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE STUDENT BOOKSTORE. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ORDER THESE ONLINE OR BUY THEM AT A BOOKSTORE. PLEASE BE SURE TO PURCHASE THE INDICATED EDITIONS.

  • On What Cannot Be Said: Apophatic Discourse in Philosophy, Religion, Literature, and the Arts: Volume 2: Modern and Contemporary Transformations. Edited by William Franke. University of Notre Dame Press: April 1, 2007. ISBN: 0268028834 
  • Rosenwasser, David and Jill Stephen. Writing Analytically. 5th Edition. Boston: Thomson Wadsworth, 2008. ISBN: 1413033105 

Registrar Notes:

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://students.sfu.ca/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS